Races for county judge dominated the Democratic and Republican primaries across the Big Country on Tuesday, with several hotly contested races.

In the Democratic primary in Nolan County, Judge Tim Fambrough received almost twice the votes that his challenger, former Nolan County Sheriff Donnie Rannefeld received. Fambrough received 829 votes or 63 percent of the vote to Rannefeld’s 496 votes or 37 percent.

Fambrough has served as county judge for 11 years and cites his experience and record for economic development as the reason for his victory.

“I did not think I would win by this majority and I am very appreciative,” Fambrough said after the final count.

Fambrough, who is finishing his third term in office, will face Republican Peter Lopez, who received 477 votes, in the November election.

“I am going to campaign all over again and do all the things you do during a campaign,” Fambrough said.

Haskell County Judge David Davis received almost half of the votes in the Democratic primary there.

Davis, who has been county judge for almost 14 years, received 871 votes, with challenger Chad Gibson receiving 435 votes.

There will not be a runoff, but Davis will face Republican Dennis Ashley in the November election.

“I have always been challenged in past elections, so I am used to this,” Davis said after the final totals were tallied.

Longtime Brown County Judge Ray West, who had two opponents in the Brown County Republican primary — handily dominated the primary in early voting.

Early totals showed West in the lead with 59 percent of the vote, with Brownwood businessman Joe Cooksey — who has filed petitions to remove West from office — trailing with 17 percent of the vote. Lewis Lehman, a farmer and rancher, received 23 percent of the early voting totals.

Tallying the Brown County votes was slow-going Tuesday night because many precincts ran out of paper ballots. Therefore, many of the substitute ballots had to be hand-counted by officials at the elections office.

Fisher County Judge Marshal Bennett was victorious in the Democratic primary there, with 710 votes to 502 votes received by challenger Jeffery Posey.

Runoff elections will be held in several counties including Runnels and Scurry, where multiple candidates were vying for county judge.

It was a six-way race in the Republican primary for county judge in Runnels County, where longtime Judge Marilyn Egan is retiring. Winters Police Chief Nathan T. Johnson was the top vote-getter with 547 votes, followed by Barry Hilliard, with 311 votes. A runoff between Johnson and Hilliard will be held April 13.

In Scurry County, Judge Rod Waller received 1,219 votes, while challenger Kirby McCravey received 785 votes and Kent Wright received 508 votes. A runoff is set for April 13 between Waller and McCravey.